C4 backs Baron Cohen start-up

Comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen and former Objective Productions chief Andrew Newman are launching a production company with backing from the UK’s Channel 4.

Sacha Baron Cohen created his Ali G character on C4

Spelthorne Community Television is a UK-based indie founded by the Borat actor and Newman, who previously worked together on C4 comedies The 11 O’Clock Show and Da Ali G Show.

C4 has invested in the company and taken a minority stake as part of its Growth Fund programme, which is led by Laura Frances and launched in 2014. The fund has put money into nine firms so far, including Arrow Media, Lightbox Media and Whisper Films.

The new company will specialise in creating scripted TV comedy and comedy entertainment with a focus on supporting new and emerging comedy writers and performers.

Cohen has more recently become known as an international film star thanks to his box office successes The Dictator, Ali G Indahouse, Borat and Brüno. He has also held roles in Sweeney Todd and Les Miserables. His latest writing and directing project, Grimsby, is set for release in 2016.

In July, Newman left the CEO role he held at Objective Productions for six years and was replaced by Layla Smith.

Andrew Newman left Objective Productions this summer

While there he worked on The Cube for ITV1, Peep Show and Fresh Meat for C4 and Big Bad World for Comedy Central, among other shows.

Newman began his TV career as a runner on The Big Breakfast. He went on to work on landmark shows including Brass Eye and The Word before moving into key commissioning jobs at C4 and Channel 5, where he was responsible for comedies including 8 Out of 10 Cats, Bo Selecta and Fonejacker.

Baron Cohen said: “After more than a decade away from Channel 4, it’s very exciting to come back home and back to the British TV industry that launched my career and those of many of my contemporaries – Ricky Gervais, John Oliver and those blokes who did The Inbetweeners. All have gone on to have great success internationally. A little too much success, if I’m honest.

“But this isn’t about people who are at the top of the pile and are coasting – this is a chance to help establish careers for ambitious people who have yet to make a mark in British television – I include amongst these Andrew Newman, who, let’s face it, hasn’t done a lot since he worked with me on The 11 O’Clock Show nearly 20 years ago.”

Spelthorne Community Television takes its name from the English borough containing Staines, the home town of Baron Cohen’s comic character Ali G.